Clinical vs Home Microneedling

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It won’t come as a surprise to know that microneedling is my favourite anti-ageing treatment as I talk about it so much here on the blog and across all my social media channels!

The reason that I recommend it so highly is because it is natural, it works on all skin types and it can be used at any age and stage of ageing to prevent, and reduce, lines, wrinkles, loosening skin and all general visible signs of ageing.

Read all about our exclusive Bio-therapeutic needling programmes

I always advise my needling clients to use a home roller along with their clinical treatments. The two are very different and are used for separate but complimentary outcomes.

Clinical needling is deeper (up to 1mm) and has some downtime of redness associated with it, usually 1-2 days. It is used to deeply stimulate skin structures, notably fibroblasts, to increase their output and act like younger cells. We focus on the correct depths to increase collagen production which in turn and over time tightens, brightens and firms the skin.

Home needling is a much shallower treatment, .25-.3mm maximum. This depth affects only the top layer of the epidermis and allows for deeper penetration of your products for maximum absorption and results from your recommended homecare routine. It also acts like a ‘reminder’ to the fibroblasts of the clinical treatments and furthers collagen production started in the treatment room. Twice a week at home is great and it takes just 5 minutes. Ideally, use our Hyaluronic+ Moisture Boost Serum with your home roller for a hydration boost. And remember, always buy your rollers from a reputable source! (We sell them here). Cheap online versions of anything are generally cheap for a reason. Never compromise with your skin, it has to last you a lifetime.

As SPF is the best tool in your anti-ageing arsenal, it is never too early to start thinking about anti-ageing! Keeping a broad-spectrum SPF30 with UVA+UVB filters as the last step in your daytime skincare routine is your best defence against premature ageing and those that do this from a young age will reap the benefits for decades. Use a good anti-oxidant cleanser, a daily moisturiser with SPF30 and a lightweight but nourishing night cream.

Note: all these recommendations pre-suppose a normal or average skin with no issues other than to keep a healthy skin and slow the visible ageing process. Anyone from dry to balanced to oily will benefit from these anti-ageing routines. If you have other issues to address such as sensitised or reactive skin, rosacea, acne, red veins, medically-compromised etc. we can tailor a corrective programme just for you and phase in a customised anti-ageing programme when your skin is stronger. All products mentioned should be used around the eyes as well as the rest of the face.

Your basic skincare routine if you are under 25 should look like this – remember this is also the basis for every other age skincare routine to build on:

Morning:
Rinse with water and a microfibre cloth
Apply SPF30 Day Cream

In your mid 20’s:
Start adding in a nutrient-rich serum day and night to counter the natural slow down of skin processes and the negative effects of pollution, hectic lifestyles and less-than-perfect food and drink choices. This will be the biggest step in dramatically slowing down the formation of lines and wrinkles in the future. Prevention is always better than cure!

Morning:
Rinse with water and a microfibre cloth
Apply Essential Nutrient Serum
Apply SPF30 Day Cream

Evening:
Cleanser with Skin Comfort Cleansing Oil
Apply Lipid Repair Concentrate 3 times a week, more often if skin is dry
Apply Hydrating Cream
In your early – mid 30’s:
Swap out your basic water-based serum for a more targeted collagen-supporting one. In your 30’s is when collagen production really begins to slow down and manifests later on the skin as lines, wrinkles, enlarged pores and thinning skin. Again, beginning a collagen boosting routine before you think you need it will pay off, as the changes are already happening deep in your skin that will show up in your late 30’s if you don’t target them early. It is a good time to switch to a richer, but still not greasy, night cream unless you have very oily skin.

Morning:
Rinse with water and a microfibre cloth
Apply Hydra Collagen Serum
Apply SPF30 Day Cream

In your late 30’s to early 40’s:
It’s time to add in a vitamin A product to normalise cellular turnover, reduce any lines and further slow the formation of new ones, keep pores clear and minimise pigmentation spots. Vitamin A will keep the surface texture of your skin smooth, fight lines and wrinkles and slow the progress of pigmentation spots.

Morning:
Rinse with water and a microfibre cloth
Apply Hydra Collagen Serum
Apply SPF30 Day Cream

Evening:
Cleanser with Skin Comfort Cleansing Oil
Apply Age Slowly Serum
Apply Lipid Repair Concentrate 3 times a week, more often if skin is dry
Apply Hydrating Cream if skin is oily, Skin Comfort Cream instead if skin is normal/dry
In your mid-late 40’s (women only)
This is time to add in a product to help balance the unwanted effects on the skin caused by declining oestrogen such as lip lines, crepey skin texture and dullness. Our Youth Boost add-in product is simply mixed with your regular cream to take care of these issues seen in peri-menopause and beyond.

Morning:
Rinse with water and a microfibre cloth
Apply Hydra Collagen Serum
Apply SPF30 Day Cream

Evening:
Cleanser with Skin Comfort Cleansing Oil
Apply Age Slowly Serum
Apply Lipid Repair Concentrate 3 times a week, more often if skin is dry
Apply Skin Comfort Cream with added Youth Boost
In your 50’s and beyond:
There should be no need to change your skincare routine any further, the anti-ageing products you are already using will continue to supply all the nutritional benefits your skin needs. As oestrogen and collagen-forming ingredients further decline naturally in the body, your Hydra Collagen Serum and Youth Boost will keep working hard to balance these effects.

Using these products will keep your skin healthy and younger for a lot longer than using non-targeted, non-active, mass-market skincare products. But of course off you have started somewhere in the middle of these age groups, and already had some visible signs of ageing then you will benefit from adding in clinical revision treatments such as bio-therapeutic needling to reverse age damage already visible. Clinical treatments tailored for your skin will also benefit all ages and stages of skin care to even further delay the visible signs of ageing.

Remember, all these recommendations pre-suppose a normal or average skin with no issues other than to keep a healthy skin and slow the visible ageing process. Anyone from dry to balanced to oily will benefit from these anti-ageing routines. If you have other issues to address such as sensitised or reactive skin, rosacea, acne, red veins, medically-compromised etc. we can tailor a corrective programme just for you and phase in a customised anti-ageing programme when your skin is stronger.

Anti-ageing doesn’t need to be complicated or confusing. It can be hard to figure out the many types of anti-ageing treatment, products and ingredients that we are constantly bombarded with on social media, magazines, tv etc. From snails to stem cells, vampire facials to baby botox, there is a never-ending stream of “the next big thing” in anti-ageing. If you are overwhelmed with choice, bewildered by conflicting advice and unsure of what’s really necessary, this blog is for you. Below I have outlined the basics of sensible, proven anti-ageing treatments and products that are all you will need to see a visible difference in your skin. If non-invasive anti-ageing is your thing (we deal in ‘fresh not frozen’ outcomes) then read on! These are my top 3 in treatments and products for a younger complexion on all skin types.

Prefer your info in video format? Scroll to the bottom

Treatments top three:

Microneedling – delay and reverse visible signs of ageing. This is the ultimate non-surgical treatment for giving you a youthful look that is fresh – not frozen. For those who want subtle yet visible revision of lines and laxity. Results are gradual and permanent. Fantastic also as a time-delay treatments for pre-ageing clients.

LED light therapy. Powerful, natural, non-invasive and customisable. Stimulates collagen, gives a revitalised softness and glow back to your skin. Add-on to your facial to supercharge results or have a course for a deep skin re-boot on skin that has been neglected or over-exposed to the sun. I have been using LED therapy on my clients for over ten years now and it shows in their skin!

Facial Massage. This old-school treatment will always have a place in our customised facials. A targeted, personalised facial massage is far more than just rubbing lotions into your skin. In the right hands it is a stand-alone anti-ageing tool that increases the availability of nutrition to the skin cells, stimulates lymph flow for sharper contours, releases muscle tension from the face, eyes and shoulders. Our therapists are trained in many types of massage so that we can tailor the best one for you. Examples are sculpting and lifting massage to give a more wide-awake and fresh look to the face and eyes, lymphatic drainage to reduce puffiness or pressure point manipulation to relieve tension. And of course whatever method we choose for your facial, it’s blissful to receive!

Products top three:

Gentle cleanser and SPF30 moisturiser are your basic core products in any skincare routine. Without a thorough, yet gentle, cleanse, your following products will not work to their full effectiveness. And, of course, we all know that prevention is better than cure, so SPF30 daily moisturiser is a must-have. From the Skin Essentials range look for Skin Comfort Cleanser and SPF30 Day Cream.

Serum. If you have not yet started using serum then it is time to make the change! Well-formulated serums can deliver targeted actives much deeper than your treatment cream and deliver visible results over time. There are serums for all ages and skin requirements but from an anti-ageing point of view the number one ingredient to use is Vitamin A, the global gold-standard in effective anti-ageing. This ingredient is vital for skin health and function and will keep cellular turnover at optimum levels, giving you brighter, clearer skin with less congestion, diminished lines and a more even colour and texture. Choose the correct serum for your skin type then add a vitamin A serum at night for anti-ageing power on every skin type. From the Skin Essentials range look at Age Slowly Serum.

Treatment Cream. Far more than a ‘moisturiser’, your chosen cream should supply nutrition, hydration and anti-oxidants at a minimum, then ideally you should be able to choose one that also has active ingredients for your skin’s particular needs. Ingredients to look out for: hyaluronic acid, plant butters, seed oils. Try to use creams that do not have silicone in the first few ingredients on the label as a general rule. For example: our Skin Comfort Cream is a fantastic universal cream for normal-dry skin types that will also provide multi-anti-oxidants, plant sterols to deeply moisturise and calm redness, all facilitating an environment where skin cells can function to their capacity, giving you a much slower ageing

For more information on any of these products or treatments, click the links in the text above, check out our treatments page, pop in top our clinic in Selskar, Wexford Town or call us on 053 9145981

So, you’re mother of the bride or groom in 2017, congratulations!
As the the big day gets closer, for some the excitement turns to anxiety as the thought of being centre stage, in every photograph, and at the top table starts to become more real.

Many women find that this is the time that they really begin to think about anti-ageing skincare therapies for the first time.

We get a lot of calls from women who are starting to get the jitters and are looking for help with looking their absolute best on the day and feeling confident with all eyes being on them. Here are my top tips for being the youngest-looking mother of the bride or groom this summer!

-It’s never too early to start, particularly if you want to reduce lines. Some therapies need weeks and even months to show full results, especially on firming contours and reducing wrinkles. Give us a call as soon as the date is set and we will work out a plan for you.
-Left it until the last minute? Don’t worry, we can still shave a few years off, at this stage we focus on temporary rejuvenation to get you camera-ready.
-Be consistent, using your recommended skincare at home daily, drinking water and eating well every day will reward you with radiant skin and bright eyes for the wedding day and beyond.
-As a general guide, you need 6+ months for real wrinkle reduction, 12+ weeks for removing brown patches, red veins, milia or skin tags, 6+ weeks for superficial rejuvenation, skin smoothing and brightening.
So, what can we do to refresh, rejuvenate and turn back the clock for you? Here are some different options depending on how much revision you would like to achieve, how much time you have to prepare and of course how committed you are to achieving results.Option 1:Refresh with a series of peels.

Choose this when you have 6-12 weeks only to see a result.
A series of skin peels will refresh your look, hydrating, plumping and smoothing the skin. A minimum of three peels spaced one week apart is optimum, ending one or two weeks before the wedding.
What results can you expect?
-brighter skin
-smoother skin
-diminished lines
-evening out of skin colour
-makeup applies easily and beautifully
Cost: €70 per peel, discount on courses. Read more here

Option 2:

Rewind with microneedling: choose this when you want serious long-lasting wrinkle lessening, skin tightening and scar reduction and have at least 6 months before the wedding.

Clinical Microneedling has become the international gold standard in non-surgical skin revision for wrinkles and acne scars over the last few years, with numerous clinical studies and thousands of satisfied clients backing up the science of collagen induction therapy.
At Skin Essentials we have integrated the precision Swiss technology of the Dr. Dermic automated needling machine with our exclusive state of the art Bio Phototherapy skin modulation device to bring you the future of skincare – NOW.
This precision process creates new collagen fibres which build over time to give positive and visible changes from deep in the skin’s layers. Skin will be tightened, smoother, wrinkles reduced, and scars reduced.
Results are long term and progressive the more you have. A course of 3-6 is needed depending on the amount of skin tightening and wrinkle revision needed.
Cost: €230 per treatment, special packages available on courses of 3 and 6. Read more here

Before (top) and after(bottom) course of 6 microneedling treatments from Skin Essentials by Mariga

Option 3Relax and rejuvenate with light therapy facials: choose this when you have left it until 6 weeks before the wedding to contact us (it happens more often than you would think!)

Skin Essentials are proud to be the first skincare clinic in Europe with Celluma Biophotonic Therapy. The Celluma machine’s unique application of the technology allows for the most powerful effect, combining multiple wavelengths of blue, red and infra red light in the same session to give your skin a power super-boost in a very relaxing treatment.
Biophotonic therapy can be taken in a series for anti-ageing or acne, or a single session can be added on to your prescribed facial or peel treatment to supercharge your results.

Cost €40 per session, or book an intensive course for fast results. Pay just €250 for unlimited use for a month. (Optimum results come from 3 sessions a week but some like to use it more often, the monthly plan gives you unlimited sessions). Read more here

Course of 12 LED light therapy sessions and appropriate homecare official Celluma pic

Option 4.Plump out lip lines with hydroporation: choose this when you haven’t the time before the wedding to wait for microneedling results.

Hydroporation is a method of introducing skin-loving hyaluronic acid into the deeper layers of the epidermis without needles.
It is applied directly beneath deep lines around the lips or downturned corners of the mouth to fill and plump them fast! A course of 3 is needed to full results, taken 2 weeks apart. This is a fantastic way to dramatically look refreshed and rejuvenated without aesthetic surgery or fillers. The results will last up to six months and can be topped up if you wish, or it will just gradually break down over the months and return to normal.

Cost: €30 per shot, more details and example pricing at the link Read more here

Before and after hydroporation for lip and mouth lines, course of 3 plus one top up session from Skin Essentials by Mariga skin clinic Wexford

Option 5.Remove annoying blemishes such as sun spots and red veins.
Many women are perfectly happy with their skin but just have isolated blemishes on their face or hands that they would love to be rid of.
At Skin Essentials we can quickly and easily remove sun spots, red veins, milia and skin tags with diathermy or cryotherapy treatments. Book a consultation 6-12 weeks before the wedding.

Remember, no matter what you choose, you will achieve far greater results when combined with the appropriate homecare products. Just give us a call on 053 9145981 and we can help put together a plan that suits your timescale and budget. There’s lots to organise before a wedding, but you can leave the skincare to us! Read more here

The hottest trend right now in skin therapy is LED Biophotonic Therapy.

At Skin Essentials, we have been in on this technology right from the beginning as we could see the potential for fantastic results on many skin issues in a non-invasive manner. We have been offering LED as part of our skincare treatments for 10 years now! As always, we are trend setters, not followers when it comes to finding the very best for your skin.

Over that time we have used several machines and become expert in lightwave technology! This experience has brought us to what we know to be the very best aesthetic LED machine on the market – the Celluma. We are proud to have been the first clinic in Europe to offer this first class machine to our clients and in fact it is so popular we have two available in our treatment rooms to keep up with demand.

What does LED do for your skin?

LED Biophotonic therapy is a light-based non-invasive treatment used to treat the signs of ageing in facial skin and also used in the treatment of acne.
LED Biophotonic Therapy works deep in the cellular structure of the skin in a non-invasive manner to promote collagen production, reduce redness, reduce lines and fight bacteria, giving you smoother, brighter, plumper skin with fewer blemishes. Skin is brighter, firmer with visibly reduced lines and smoother contours. You look fresher and more ‘awake’.

LED uses a technology first developed by NASA to help with wound healing in space.
It’s aesthetic application uses the device to deliver light deep into skin tissue to promote growth.
The mitochondria (energy components) of the cell are stimulated, colour-sensitive chemicals are activated, skin cells are re-energised and collagen production boosted.

Why did we choose the Celluma over all the other devices available?

The Celluma machine’s unique application of the technology (slower, longer pulses in a mouldable panel) allows for the most powerful effect, combining multiple wavelengths of blue, red and infra red light in the same session to give your skin a power super-boost in a very relaxing treatment. Of all the machines that we have used, and researched, it has the most research data, FDA clearances and industry awards.

Biophotonic therapy can be used as a stand-alone treatment when taken in a series for anti-ageing or acne, or a single session can be added on to your prescribed facial or peel treatment to supercharge your results. It is an integral part of our microneedling treatment, speeding and boosting results.

As the light waves are working on a deep, cellular level you will find that positive changes in your skin’s appearance continue to occur for weeks and months after your initial course. These can be enhanced by monthly single-session top-ups and use of the correct skincare for your skin’s needs.
Pricing:
Single 30 minute session €40
Join our Celluma Club – monthly unlimited access to the Celluma for a single payment of €250. Fantastic to begin an anti-ageing routine or deeply boost a new acne clearing routine. Ideal usage is three times per week, but you can have more if you wish, some clients enjoy the relaxing benefits of Celluma so much that they come in every day on their lunch break during the month of their Celluma Club course.

Further information:

Technology developed by NASA using light emitting diodes (LED) has been scientifically proven by many recent clinical trials to re-regulate cellular function in the treatment of many common conditions, restoring the body’s natural ability to heal itself. Contrasted to many widely accepted therapies where vital tissue is intentionally damaged to create a healing response, using LED light to “re-energize” cellular function in a non-invasive manner allows the body to maintain vitality as nature intended. “LED reacts with cytochromes in the body,” explains Dr. Harry Whelan, professor of pediatric neurology and director of hyperbaric medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin. “Cytochromes are the parts of cells that respond to light and color. When cytochromes are activated, their energy levels go up, and that stimulates tissue growth and regeneration.”1